Pipe cleaning machine



Feb. 17, 1948. J. D. CUMMIN-GS EIAL 2 9 PIPE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1942 e Shegts-Sh eet 1 ncurmmes H. LAU R ENTI INVENTORS fiTrO/PNE Y.

Feb. 17, 1948. J. D. CUMMINGS ET AL 2,436,099

PIPE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IDGunmNGs M. F. LAU R ENT. INVENTORS Feb. 17, 1948.

J. D. CUMMINGS ET AL PIPE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Gunmms. VLF. LAURENT.

INVENTORS Feb. 17, 1948. J. D. CUMMINGS ET AL 4 'PIPE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 JTDGunMmGs 3% k M F. LA U R E N T. i 59 INVENTORS F795. BY 5% some.

Feb. 17, 1948. J CUMMlNGs ETAL v 2,436,099

PIPE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. -20, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IDGurmmes N. P. LA u RENT INVENTORS BY I Q wt'u G g/ M Feb. 17, 1948. J. D. CUMMINGS ETAL 2,436,099 I 1.?IPE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet '6 IDGuMMmGs N. F. LA u R E N T INVENTORfi J mfiw,

HTTO/FNE r.

Patented Feb. 17,

eQH -N E James I) I Cummings and Milton Pf Laurent,

-Hotist6n, Teitii as'signors to"Crutcherf-Ro1fsr-i. Houston,'-'Tex:, a? corpo- Gllliimil lgs '7 Company f ETeXaS" a 5 F cv ration 425', "at n ii ii ef 2" 1942 e i Ne ewe 1 r e invention relates to a pipe cleaning machi and particul lfi to""in'ainn nicn travel along-"them surface of thpipe is pica-em were??? ie e e on e isipe rms been 'aiinciiit pecanse r-tii weientbf the pipe cleaning machine anatne diiliciilti of fnaifita 'inin'it'i'ri primerpasincnuponthepipez" The 'present invenno come Winother'object '*ofth invention is to provide a housing for piiie'cleaiiin-g machines Which will Bedispdsed aboiit the pipe'ivfi'erein the housing n adjn'stahle relativemothe pipe' 'sd as to accominci date-'di-ife'ientsized b11 85 *hnotli'erobject(if the invention is to provide thecombination oi az hon'sing and"a rotatable ca e'therein Wherein theWIe'aning memlieis are powerdriven by'engageinent of -thec aee'witn the "I? 'l ftrfl i'iz mi "ph -"wr I." Q-J Z1 m i *Another object of the invention is to provide power 1 driven 'cieaning members-for a -tr ifeliiig i I, re UM typepipe cleani-ng*machine?" e a iiinother. "objectbf the invention is to provide a pipe cleanermember which i xiioimtea -for 12 Claims. (01.154.104.0 4)

o'wer nda pi'pebut which is' urged'tcwardthepipeasa'mm; tion orthe sp'eedor rotatiii' ofthe'cleanefi Another object of the invention is to' 'provide sin; 2

- pipe cleaning machine; i e.

- in disposing the -housing pipe cleaning machine sci-that the housing may be adjusted to accomniodate diflerent:sizeckpipe.

'An'other object-cr me inventnmeto provide a power" mechanism f'o'i the cleaner cage of a: pipecleaning machine wherein the cleaner elements cage. r

Another object of the invention is to provide a painting or'primer' coating attachmentiwpipe are driven independently of the'rotation of such CIeanii Qmaminessa s a I I Other andfurther objects of the invention will be more readily apparentwhen considered in*con-:

nection with thefollowing descriptioii and the accompanying drawingswherein' Fig.1 is" a frontelevationmfia. pipe cleaning pipe; ;FI-.. Fig. 2 is a rear end ing machine;= fw l .n 1 p l Fig; 3'is' atop plan view looking down on the 5 machine mounted iim-operativ fposition 'upon a;

elevation 01' the pipe clean- Fig. 4'is"a"sectioniiaken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and showingatransverseiarrangement of the housing; cage'iand deepen-member's;

'Fig; 5 is'a broken-detail view shbwing the adjusting mechanism-fot'tlieoutriggerwheel; Fig. '6 isa' 'b'r'oken detail section through the housing, cage, *and the"cleaner mmber driving onsupporting mechanismw Fig. 7 'is a=top-plan*view looking down on the rear yoke-to which a paintinbeen affixed;

' Fig. "8 is an end view of the painting attachment' of Fig. 7 with the pipe shownrin section? Fig.9 is :a broken detailed view along the-line Fig. 10 is a broken sectional view 0 if?! W2? '1'", m-

v n Fig; 1 illustrates the pipe cleaning machine gen- I line erally at :l and this niachine inclndes ther frame 2. This frame i's-o'bpeculiafficonstrncticmin that it incorporates th hoiisi-ng i at' ene 1 edge =*there 0f,"Which housing ismad up or the sections-d which may be clamped together by thei bolts 5 out the pipe such as a; '1 e. 52H:- t- T ii :13: "This frame 2 is best seen in top plan view in Fig. '3 and includes 'a-platform area I which carries an'engihe'or other power source 8. suitable transmission mechanism"*9 controls the power from the" source Band serves-t6 operate a :drive shaft l0"which' 'willwelate'r describech= kl This f-rame'z is-mounted'to traveleon the pipe y mans' "of a bridge-construction l 2; This ttachment has bridge incorporates the pipes or beams l3 and M which are spaced apart and are suitably connected to the circular flanges l5 which form the Each yoke carries the extensions 18 and !8 which serve as bearings for the traction wheel shafts 20. It will be noted from Fig. 1 that the roller 2| mounted on each of these-shaftst20 is slidable along the shaft, even though it is-keyed theretdz It should be noted that the shaft 20 is substan-' tially tangent to the pipe and that the opposite shafts are connected together by the bevel gears 23 so that the power connection 25 to one of the shafts serves to drive both shafts, and

therefore both wheels.

"The yoke 15 is connectedto-the beams or pipes l4 and I3 by the U'-bolts'25'. A shim or block 26 can be placed under the pipe or beam so as to adjust the position-cf: the yoke relative to the beam. g v r i If apipe smaller than the pipe shown at 8 in Fig, 1 is to be cleaned, it is only necessary to mount a suitable number of the blocks 26 under the U-bolts so as tospace the housing 3 concentrically about the pipe. If the pipe is smaller, the wheels 2|"will slide along the shafts 29 and accommodate 1' themselves to: the :small diameter pipe. In this manner avariation in the size of, the pipe will not Lcauseir'anywedging or binding action of thesertraction'or supporting wheels. The connectiorri i'may extend over to the drive shaft if! in any suitable manner, but is preferably in the form of ai'chain 28 connectedbetween the driving connection 24 at each end of the bridge.

The rear drivingi'c'onnectionld will be connected to the end 29 of the difierentialiifl. The differential so, injturnfreceives itspower through a transmission 31 Aandthe' driven connection 32 from a, stub shaft 33'which'i's, in turn, driven-by the chain 34 from the'driveshaft Hi. In this manner it willbe' noted that there are two transmissions. 9 and-3i .:so that a considerable number of variations in'speed may be obtained.

The mechanism thus described supports. and

valves, and pipe connections may be connected to the cylinder, as seen in Fig. 1. This system will serve to operate the piston 4'! and to move the arm 39 relative to the frame. Thus, if a depression is encountered, liquid can be forced into the cylinder-to such an extent that the frame will remain at the same'elevation while the outrigger wheel will travel down into the depression.

1. .When the depression has been traversed the hydraulic liquid can be released from the cylinder to again-allow the arm 39 to move to a suitable position -suchthat the frame 2 is substantially horizontal; .It seems obvious that this arm 35 .maybe. adjusted in any desired manner to permit satisfactory operation of the machine.

The transverse sectional view of Fig. 4 illustrates the pipe cleaning portion of the machine and showsthe housing 3 as being assembled about the pipe 8. This housing is, of course, supported by the beams or pipes l2 and i3 and the traction wheels 2|, as previously described, so that this housing 3 merely slides along the pipe, but is concentrically disposed about the pipe due to the adjustment of the yoke I6 relative to the supporting pipes.v

As indicated hereinbefore, it is .very desirable to providepower driven cleaner members, and tothis endthe' applicant has provided a rotatable cage 50 which is best seen in end elevation in Fig. 2. This cage is made up of a pair of semicircular members 5| clamped together with the bolts 52 in position aboutthe pipe 6. In order to support thiscagefor rotation,-the supporting rollers 53 are mounted-on the shafts 5 1 on thecage and these rollers.- are arranged to travel on the trackway 55 which forms a part of the housing 3. This trackway 55 acts as a support to allow a-rolling action of the rollers 53. g I v In order to turn this cage a drive sprocket 56 forms part of the cage and is driven by the chain 51 from the drive sprocket 58." V

' It seems obvious that as the cage 50 is driven by the sprocket 56 that the rollers 53 will turn and follow the trackway 55. 1

drives one edgebfthe frame 2 upon the pipe.

As'best seen in Figs'land 2', theopposite or outboard edge 35 of the frame 2 is supported by an outrigger wheelilfiz' This wheel may be of any suitable 'constructiombut is preferably mounted,

upon a'stub shaft--38which is journaled in the end of the arm 39 "which arm, in turn, is pivoted on the shaft 49 carriedLbythe rear edge of the frame2." Fig. Zshows that one side 42 of the differential 30 carries a sprocketzwheel 43 by whichia chain will drive another sprocket-wheel 44 on the hub of the wheel 35. In 'this'manner it seems obvious thatthere will-bethie differential at between the traction wheel 2| on the pipe and the outrigger wheel-36.

In' amachine ofthisitype which travels along a pipeline across the country, it seems obvious that the terrain being traversed by the outrigger wheel 36 may be uneven, and with this in mindthearm 39 has been pivoted and may be adjusted relative to the-frame" 2 by-"any suitable means; Fig. 5 shows an hydraulic cylinder 46 which car-. ries the pistonand rod assembly 41 which is connected at '48 to the end of the arm .39 carrying It is desirable that the cleaner members be power driven so that they may turn at a relatively'highrate of speed as they rotate about the pipe. To accomplish this operation, the cleaner members B0,.as seen in Fig. 4, are mount-1 ed upon a sleeve or cleaner member supporting assembly indicated generally at 6!. This assembly is best seenin Fig-6.

The Wheels 53 are shown as traveling on the trackway and these wheels are affixed to the shaft 54. This shaft-54 is rotatably mounted in the cage 55 by means of the antifriction bearings 62, and isof a length'toextend from end to end of the housing 3 and carriesan identical set of wheels 53 on the other end thereof. The pipe cleaner member assembly includes the sleeve. 85 which is mounted for turning movement-upon the, hubs '66 of the cagel5ll; This sleeve has an extension 68 .thereon which extendslaterally from: the sleeve and serves to support the cleaner. spindle-B9 in the'antifrictionbearingslll. The spindle 69 carries acleaner member H. which ispreferably in the form of wire bristles or other suitable members which will brush against the r surface of the pipe to performthe cleaning op-:

oration. .This'memberli is held. inplace by the nut 12 which can be readily removed in order to change the member either as to type, size or construction. 2 i, ,7 1 In order that this cleaner member H. may turn: at a relatively high speed against the surface of centrlcally about different sized pipe, a-rotatable cleaner cage, rollers on said cage rotatable-5m ;said housing as the cage rotates, cleaner members in said cage, and means driven-by rotation of said rollers to drive said cleaners as the cage travels around the pipe.

' 5. In a pipe cleaning'machine a cage to rotate about the pipe, a cleaner u'nitincluding a'sleeve turnably mounted on said cage, an extension laterally of said sleeve, a-cleaner member rotat- I ably mounted on' said extension, and driving means for said member including a roller running in the machine, a shaft rotatable in said sleeve by said rcller, and a connection therefrom tosaid member; a

q 6. ma pipe cleaning machine a cage to rotate about the pipe, a cleaner unit including asleeve turnably mounted on said cage, an extension laterally of said sleeve, a cleaner member rotatably mounted on said extension, driving means for said member including a roller running in the machine, a shaft rotatable thereby "in'said sleeve; and a connection therefrom" to said member, and a counterweight extending-from said housing opposing the'cleaner member so that upon rotation of the cage said counterweight will tend to turn the sleeve and move said "cleaner' mernber against the pipe.

7. In a pipe cleaning machine a cage torotate about the pipe, a' cleaner unit including a sleeve turnably mounted on said cage, an extension laterally of saidsleeve, a cleanermemberrotatably mounted on said extension, drivingmeans for said member including a roller running in the machine, a shaft rotatable thereby in said sleeve,

and a connection therefrom to said member, and a counterweight extending from said housing opposing the cleaner member so that upon rotation of the cage said counterweight will tend to turn the sleeve and move said cleaner member against the pipe, said sleevebeing turnable to accommodate different sizes of pipe,

8. In a pipe cleaning machine a cage to rotate about the pipe, a cleaner unit including a sleeve turnably mounted on said cage, an extension laterally of said sleeve, a, cleaner member rotatably mounted on saidextension, driving means for said member including'a roller running in the machine, a shaft rotatablethereby in said sleeve, and a connection therefrom to saidmemher, a counterweight extending from said housing opposing the cleaner member so that upon rota? tion of the cage said counterweight will. tend to turn the sleeve and move saidcleaner member against the pipe, and means to adjust said counterweight so as to vary the pressure forcing said member against the pipe. j

9. In a pipe cleaning machine a cleaner housing to be positioned about the pipe, a cleaner cage rotatabletherein, a bridge to support said housing and cage about the pipe, said'bridge including a yoke at each end and traction mem-- has carried by the yoke to travel on the pipe, said yokes being adjustable relative to said nousing so as to accommodate the housing to different sizes of pipe, and rollers running in said housing tosupport and drive said cage.

10. In a pipe cleaning machine a housing to .be disposed about the pipe to be cleaned, inside trackways on said housing, a cleaner cage disposed in the housing, cleaner members carried by said cage, and combination driving and supporting rollers on the cage to travel on said inside track and to thereby drive said cleaner members.

'11." In -a pipe cleaning machine a housing to be disposed about the pipe to be cleaned, inside trackways on said housing, a cleaner cage disposed in the housing, cleaner members carried by said cage, combination driving and supporting rollers on the cage to travel on said inside track and to'thereby drive said cleaner members, and means to guide said cage in rotation to prevent" end sway including additional rollers on the cage and an additional trackway in said housing.

12. A 'pipe'cleaning machine to travel along a pipe line being cleaned including a frame, driven traction wheels supporting one side of the frame about the pipe, an outrigger wheel supporting the'other edge of said frame including an arm pivoted tosaid frame, means to adjust said wheel relative to the frame including a device to pivot said am, and means to drive said wheel so that the machine will travel in alignment with the JAMES D. CUMMINGS.

MILTON P. LAURENT.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number,,, Name Date 1,944,002 Harrison Dec. 26, 1933 2,041,337 Harrison May 19, 1936 1,830,771 Burton et al Oct. 4, 1932 1,909,882 Morain May 16, 1933 1,308,081 Kinzbach July 1, 1919 1,176,452. Hubbell Mar. 21, 1916 1,375,979- Taber Apr. 26, 1921 1,957,792 McManis May 8, 1934 2,193,971 Laurent Mar. 19, 1940 1,020,789 Armstrong Mar. 19, 1912 2,307,449 Carpmail Jan. 5, 1943 2,302,196 Downs et al. Nov. 17,1942

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain Apr. 26, 1921 

